NEWCASTLE will not be signing a direct replacement for Steve Harper this summer in order to enable teenage goalkeeper Jak Alnwick to step up to the senior ranks.

Harper ended a 20-year association with the Magpies when he made his final appearance for the club in the 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on the final day of last season.

His departure leaves Tim Krul and Rob Elliot as Newcastle's only senior shot-stoppers, with the former expected to miss the start of next season as he completes his recovery from a shoulder injury.

However, rather than looking to bring in another experienced goalkeeper, Magpies manager Alan Pardew is ready to put his faith in Alnwick, an England under-20 international who was an unused substitute in Harper's final game.

"You can always look at your squad in any department and want to strengthen here and there, but there comes a point when you've got to look at what you've got and promote within," said goalkeeping coach Andy Woodman.

"You've got to have belief in these young kids, that's the point of producing them. Jak Alnwick as an example has been putting in performances week in, week out, and not just in games for the under-21s, but also on the training pitch."He trains with the first team pretty much every day and I always think a good gauge of how good these kids are is the respect they gain from the other professionals.

"When you've got people like (Fabricio) Coloccini and (Yohan) Cabaye who have respect for this young goalkeeper, that tells me we've got a boy with something who can progress into a top keeper. We've got a very good goalkeeper coming through, and the department as a whole is healthy."

Woodman joined Newcastle in December 2010, having previously worked with Pardew at both West Ham and Charlton.

One of the pair's first big decisions was the promotion of Krul ahead of Harper at the start of the 2011-12 season, and the Dutchman has more than justified their faith as he has developed into one of the most consistent and effective goalkeepers in the Premier League.

Woodman was also a key factor in the arrival of Elliot, and the experienced coach is delighted to see Newcastle's number two now firmly established in the top-flight.

"It's been a brilliant season for me with the goalkeepers," he said. "I think Tim won all the Player of the Year awards, so I take that as a sort of pat on the back for the job we did together. He's had some pretty big injuries this year, Tim."Rob Elliot, I'll shout this loudly, people still haven't seen the best of him yet. He's got so much more to come and I'm glad he's surprised a few people.

"He hasn't surprised me at all, I know he's a top keeper, I know we've got a very good player there, one I genuinely think is on the brink of international football with Ireland."And I do believe he's got a lot more to offer this club and I'm glad that people have looked at and grown with him. You can feel there's a real warmth towards Robbie."